7 Stunning Towns To Visit In Washington

"Stunning" and Washington go hand in hand. It is a delight to explore this natural and commercial wonderland full of sprawling forests, magnificent mountains, pristine beaches, striking historic sites, and bustling businesses. Although you may think such attractions are limited to the Seattle and Tacoma areas, you can find them around some of the state's smallest settlements. Here are seven stunningly dainty communities to visit in The Evergreen State.

Friday Harbor

Friday Harbor is a town of about 2,600 people on San Juan Island. Ocean views are perhaps the best part of this small community, and they can be enjoyed while eating halibut and shrimp ceviche at Downriggers or knocking back booze at Cease & Desist - A Friday Harbor Beerhouse. You can get personally—and moistly—acquainted with the ocean at Lime Kiln Point State Park, which is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. The Lime Kiln Lighthouse is dedicated to orca research, as are The Whale Museum and the Center for Whale Research in downtown Friday Harbor. To get even closer to FH's famous orcas (plus seals, sea lions, porpoises, and bald eagles), hire San Juan Excursions for a boat tour of the archipelago. Even artificial ocean views are spectacular in Friday Harbor. Artistic depictions of San Juan Island scenery can be found at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art and exhibits like the Waterworks Gallery and Friday Harbor Gallery.

White Salmon

Located far from the harbor but still harboring aquatic life, White Salmon is an inland Washington community on the Columbia River. It was likely named after steelhead trout, which are still caught in the river. Fishing is just one of many aquatic activities offered by White Salmon. After getting drenched courtesy of Wet Planet Rafting and Kayaking, head to the picturesque downtown district, whose highly rated retreats include the White Salmon Baking Company, Feast Market & Delicatessen, Bubba's Brew Espresso, Pixan - Taqueria & Cantina, Everybody's Brewing, Le Doubblé Troubblé Wine Co., Soča Wine Shop & Bar, and Henni's Kitchen & Bar. You can get wet in multiple ways in White Salmon.

Metaline Falls

Metaline Falls is a scenic sanctuary nestled deep into Washington. This town has 272 residents as per the 2020 census and sits among forests and waterfalls near the Canadian border. In addition to hiking, biking, off-roading, fishing, and even spelunking, visitors can go sightseeing downtown. Despite its size, MF is full of historic sites and vibrant businesses. Some are combined, like The Cutter Theatre, which is a diverse performance venue in the old Metaline Falls School, and the Historic Washington Hotel, which is an early-20th-century inn that is still in operation. Delicious food can be had at The Farmhouse Cafe, 5th Avenue Bar & Grill, and The Last Stop Ice Cream Shop.

Poulsbo

Another seaside community, Poulsbo, sits on Liberty Bay and is nicknamed "Little Norway." It was settled by Norwegian immigrants in the 1880s, and nearly a century and a half later, it retains lots of Scandinavian charm. Tourists can buy Nordic gifts at Nordiska, eat Norwegian black bread at Sluys Poulsbo Bakery, swallow Swedish meatballs at Tizley's EuroPub, and guzzle Viking-inspired øl at Valhöll Brewing. Other charming Old Country-style haunts include the Verksted Gallery, Poulsbo Heritage Museum, Brass Kraken Pub, Poulsbo Candy Shoppe, and Flicka. Arguably, the Nordic part of Poulsbo is its scenery. After admiring its pristine waterfront and lush mountainous surroundings, it is easy to see why Poulsbo became the adopted home for so many Norwegians. Now, it can be your adopted home.

Leavenworth

Like Poulsbo, Leavenworth is a Washington community inspired by a European country. Unlike Poulsbo, Leavenworth does not have roots in its theme country—in this case, Germany. Rather, it followed the lead of the Danish-style city of Solvang, California, to intentionally mimic a Bavarian mountain village. But if you think Leavenworth's artificiality takes away from its charm, take a walk on the winding, snow-swept roads, making sure to stop at the München Haus Bavarian Grill and Beer Garden, Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, and even the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, and to look at the colossal Cascades in the background, and then tell us your opinion.

Leavenworth's transformation was so successful that it inspired nearby Winthrop to adopt a Wild West aesthetic. In addition to shopping and pretending, both inland Washing towns offer some of the best stargazing opportunities in the state.

Snoqualmie

Snoqualmie had about 1,500 residents when David Lynch picked it as one of the filming locations for his scenic yet sinister series Twin Peaks. Thirty-five years later, its population is over 14,000, but its Lynch-approved landmarks can still be seen—only you might have to share the views with many other people. Such sights/sites include the Salish Lodge & Spa, a luxurious mountainside getaway that offers myriad modes of relaxation; Reinig Bridge, which is a walkable former railroad bridge that crosses the Snoqualmie River; and Snoqualmie Falls, a 268-foot waterfall that attracts more than 1.5 million annual visitors. Snoqualmie is perhaps the prettiest place in the Pacific Northwest—at least of those chosen for a trippy TV show.

Port Townsend

Port Townsend is a Victorian seaport that somehow survived into 2024. Hundreds of waterfront and waterfront-adjacent 19th-century buildings make up the Port Townsend Historic District, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. The Starrett House, Palace Hotel, Rose Theatre, Hastings Building, Historic Fire Bell Tower, and William James Bookseller are some of the highlights of the district. One Port Townsend highlight that sits outside the historical district is Fort Worden Historical State Park, a 434-acre former military fort turned preserve of both history and nature. It contains over 50 buildings, over 100 campsites, and many miles of hiking and biking trails.

Whether you go whale watching in Friday Harbor, trout fishing in White Salmon, spelunking in Metaline Falls, drinking øl in Poulsbo, stargazing in Leavenworth, TV show touring in Snoqualmie, or historic sightseeing in Port Townsend, you can describe Washington with one word: stunning.